We had to get to it sooner or later. In order to eat, something must die.
Learning to Kill
We are very grateful to Connie VanDyke of Tabor Tilth for teaching us her method of killing and processing rabbits. We had read and watched everything we could find about butchering, but nothing compares to real life experience. If you decide to keep rabbits for food and have never butchered before, please try to find someone in your area who can teach you! You are welcome to visit our farm on slaughtering day, and we will teach you how we do it.
There are several methods for butchering rabbits. We make the process as painless and humane as possible. The main idea is to stun the rabbit before bleeding it out. You want the rabbit to bleed as quickly and completely possible.
Breaking the Neck
We know of three methods for breaking the rabbit’s neck. We use the broomstick method.
- Chinning: Hold the rabbit upside down by the back legs. Quickly snap the head down and back to break the neck.
- Use the Rabbit Wringer
- Broomsticking: Have one person bring the bunny to you. Set it on the floor and put a piece of rebar or strong broomstick just behind the neck. Step down on the rebar (one person’s foot on each side) while you pull up hard on both back feet at once.
Once the neck is broken, lift the rabbit and slit its throat over a bucket to bleed it.
Blunt Force
We tried this method but found our aim wasn’t as sure as we’d like it to be. Place the rabbit in a box small enough so it can’t move, or set it on the table and hold it. Using something heavy like a pipe, stone, or heavy wood hammer, give the rabbit a sharp blow between the ears. The rabbit will be stunned and fall over. Immediately chop off its head with a heavy butcher knife and hang the rabbit upside down. (Or you can hang upside down and slit throat to bleed it.)
Pellet Gun
Place the rabbit in a box small enough so it can’t move. Shoot the rabbit between the ears. Immediately hang the rabbit upside down and slit the throat to bleed it, or cut off the head as above.
Butchering
The best video we have found that follows our methods almost (almost) exactly.
Recipes
Domestic rabbit meat is different than game rabbit. It is all white meat. The legs have the best, most versatile meat. The meat of the back has a longer grain. Rabbits are delicious roasted whole, or cooked any way you’d cook chicken. I like to deep fry the legs and stew the back in the crock pot. Rabbit is very lean, so some fat may need to be added when cooking, depending on what you’re doing. Rabbit’s internal temp should be 160 degrees when done – don’t overcook it or it’ll get tough. It’s also high protein. From one rabbit, three of us get our fill the first night then hit the leftovers for a couple days.
Here are a few recipes. Search the internet for more, or use rabbit wherever you would use white meat chicken.
Dear Rabbit Revolution people.,
I want to tell you to be careful to secure your rabbits, and keep them safe. And keep your address hidden! No accidental revealing of name or location!
I just had all three of my rabbits stolen from my yard. I have had a pair of Red NZ for meat for about 4 years-plus their biggest daughter. I tried them in the house (too much pee), the garage ( too much pee) and then in hutches in the yard. Learned to care for them, learned to eat them. It has been and is a spiritual journey into self suffiency and my values with meat eating etc. They produced well.
Somehow someone decided my rabbits needed rescuing. I have exhausted the paranoia trying to figure out how and why. Was it a disgruntled neighbor, a vegan acquaintance, a kid? This person probably told a bunny rescue group that my bunnies needed to be rescued.
The rabbits were fed on a Tuesday night, at 8:30 pm. The next morning they were gone. The cages were closed again. The fence gate was bent. One water bottle from a cage and a cat carrier that could not hold all 33 lbs of 3 big rabbits was also missing. It would have leaned against the one hutch. Most of their food and water, except the missing water was gone. We were in the house. It was a dark night, and though my son said he heard fence noises he saw nothing. Even closing the hutch roof doors took a very sneaky hand, as they usually slam.
Two of my rabbits are tattooed. I do not think they were stolen to eat because of the water bottle and carrier thing. It seems if a bum was grabbing them for barbecue he would haul them off in his napsack or something, not a carrier with a water bottle. Since this happened in mid August I have found out that there is an active rabbit rescue society in our area. I thought that no one would find it worth while to steal these rabbits. Now I find they get 90 bucks a rabbit in rehome fees, plus all kinds of donations they milk with stories of saving rabbits from horrible barns were there were sixty rabbits. Umm does that mean they are bragging about stealing sixty rabbit from a farmer. Yep. Look up rabbit rescue on the internet and keep reading.
I cannot tell you how sad I am to have my hope and future plans of rabbiting just undermined like this. It is a violation to have your yard broke into. There is no question that my rabbits were healthy well cared, happy rabbits. The only thing worse is if they would have hurt my kids or us physically. It is up there with dog theft or worse, because dogs are not often eaten. Not only that but I was very attached to these rabbits, which watched tv with me, especially the buck. All my yard waste, maple leaves, branches, grass, weeds went mostly went through cages and I can’t even pull weeds without getting sad. They changed me to organic gardening. I think what you are doing, your revolution here, is extremely important KEEP IT UP. but protect your rabbits.
Tattoo them. Then we have to come up with a national registry for tatoo ears and rabbit histories in a secure way. No way should a rescue group get by selling a tatooed rabbit to someone without getting closed down. This could work with microchipping but that is expensive for rabbits. Tattooing is cheaper.
These rescue groups are not harmless innocents. They have economic incentives to do what they are doing. Their non-profits, for these economical animals, are very profitable. Then they regularly have disasters ?such as disease outbreaks or wild animal break ins that get rid of their rabbits. The rescue people are a mixture of confused sentimentalists and the worse in self serving money hungry power grubbers. What a power trip-to think you are doing a wonderful thing to B & E my rabbits out of my fenced yard!
My Red NZ bucks was one of seven good bucks of his breed that I could find in this state, and Red NZ are not even a rare breed. How are they helping rabbits to neuter him? If someone cares to live with rabbit poo in their house and their rabbit perhaps, does not produce garden improvement like mine did, that is there right. What right have they to say I cannot have a yard pet? ann
Ann,
I’m really sorry for your loss. That sounds heartbreaking and terrifying all at once. We are doing what we can to protect our rabbits, and rethinking more about that as well. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
-Joy
Ann, What possibly could be the financial incentive for a rabbit rescue to steal the rabbits from you? I have friends who work with one, and they spend so much time and their own money taking care of abused, neglected, unwanted, and abandoned rabbits that I certainly can see no way they are making money off these rabbits.
I don’t know where you live, but I assume from the maples, it is somewhat temperate. Many people who have house rabbits have trained them to use litter boxes. They do not keep them outside because the temperatures can be too extreme, and other animals threaten them. Also, rabbits living indoors display great personality and intelligence.
Do you keep your cows, goats, and chickens in your house John? Rabbits are livestock, all my meat has wonderful personalities also. Everyone thinks because they are cute and furry you shouldn’t eat them. Everyone of my future diners are well taken care of. Rabbits do alot better in cold then heat so having maples don’t mean anything. Ann I’m sorry about your rabbits, get 2 more does a buck and a good lock on your gate. Maybe a good outdoor guard dog to attack the stupid people that thinks it’s wrong to raise our own meat. My chicken I ate for dinner had free range with plenty of water bugs and movement not locked in some tiny cage with it’s beak cut off. It was mighty tasty!!
Can you tell me what breed of rabbit is the meatiest for breeding and feeding my family?
Thanks for your question, Javier! According to Bob Bennet, author of Storey’s Guide to Raising Rabbits, Champagne d’Argents have the smallest bones and yield the most meat per fryer. They are a very rare heritage breed, though, and less hardy than other breeds. For purely meat production, Californians and New Zealands (or hybrids) are probably your best bet.
We would love to visit your farm, if you would be so kind to allow us to do so. Is there a way that we can set up a time?
Thanks!
Buns have glands that can make the meat taste bitter, a bit like chicken butts that too can spoil the taste for some folks.(this is apparently a genetic thing, some people can taste it, others are completely oblivious).
Take a look on my butchering page for some extra tips: http://stuff-i-cook.blogspot.com/2009/12/butchering-rabbit.html
I would like to ask that which variety of rabbits is best for butchering i have 5 pet rabbits can i butcher them also or i must buy meat from market
The rabbits most commonly butchered are New Zealands and Californians. But Americans, Rexes, Chinchillas, and others are also used for meat.
I am curious about your wanting to butcher your pet rabbits – when I tell people we raise rabbits for meat I regularly hear stories of people who were traumatized by parents unexpectedly deciding to butcher their pets and make them eat them. I really hope that isn’t your plan!
We generally butcher rabbits young – at about 9 to 12 weeks. That makes them easier to skin, and they have more tender meat. We recently had to cull a sick doe at almost 6 months, and she was still fine to eat (stewed) but she was harder to process.
I would really appreciate the chance to come see slaughtering day. I want to start raising rabbits but must first make sure I can do the deed. Getting a bunch of bunnies and then finding that I can’t kill them would suck. Please shoot me an email (I couldn’t find your email address on the site). I’ll be in Portland this next weekend. Thanks.
I was browsing and came across your site, nicely done. Really liked your manifesto. Especially after watching Food Inc, the documentary.
We just had our second litter, with 5 baby bunnies. The first litter had 4, and they’re 11 weeks old.
When is a good time to start putting food on table? They weigh around 3 lbs and 1 or 2 oz. Is it too early?
We started raising rabbits late summer with two small ones. It was a spur of the moment decision, so I think we probably do not have the best breed for meat. 11 weeks old and 3 lbs weight. After buying the bunnies, I’ve read New Zealanders and Californians are best, however I don’t think I can find them in San Diego. Any advice on where to find the best breeds for meat in Southern California?
Thanks for the valuable info.
Congratulations!
We butcher around 12 weeks for several reasons. For one, the fryers are around 6 lbs at this point, so they dress out to 3 lbs. A very nice size that feeds 3 of us for a meal plus leftovers. Also, rabbits go through a growth spurt at 10 weeks, then start slowing down. So it’s most efficient to butcher around that time. Third, rabbits (esp. bucks) get much harder to skin after 13 weeks.
Up to 6 months, though, the meat is still relatively tender. After 6 months, though, you have to stew them to get chewable meat!
In San Diego, you might be better off raising the little rabbits. Smaller rabbits do better in the heat. Where we live, we get about 2 weeks of really hot weather (above 95 F). It’s practically a full time job to keep the bunnies cool.
If you do decide to go with larger rabbits, though, I recommend white ones. You should also join the Yahoo! Meat Rabbits group. The group has a lot of really knowledgeable people who can connect you with other breeders.
Glad you enjoy the site!
GET A GAME CAMERA, THEN GET MORE RABBITS, THEN HAVE THE (**(*&PEOPLE PUT IN JAIL FOR TRESPASSING AND THEFT!
If I could guarantee that they would get put in jail or have to pay reparations, I would get a camera. But I can’t guarantee that. We don’t give our address out and don’t have any radical vegan neighbors or friends!
do flemish giants make good meat rabbits. i have a hard time finding NZs but there are flemish breeders around. thanks
You can certainly eat Flemish rabbits, but they are very inefficient at converting feed to meat. They are VERY big boned, with only a little meat on them. You’d probably be better off going with a small breed rather than a big one, say a mini Rex or a Tan. They’ll make smaller fryers, but will convert a smaller proportion of their feed into bone than a Flemish.
I am 71 years old and have been raising rabbits for meat for 20 years and i seen the video and it was great, for you see i lost my right arm and it is kind of hard to skin
a rabbit but i get it done. thanks Paul
Hi, I live in Alabama and am looking for organic rabbit feed… I didn’t know if you have any suggestions. I can only find the tiny bags in the pet store. THANKS
Your best bet is to find a local feed mill who can mill organic feed.
Great Video! We raise New Zealand rabbits for meat and have our own butcher shop at our farm. You have a great website, thanks for sharing!
Rabbit Rev people Thanks for taking the time to share with others. I have pretty much always had rabbits, I guess it’s normal got a few as a kid and you know what happens with “a few” we would eat one from time to time and it never bothered me I guess because I have rabbit hunted from an early age.
There is also a lot for kids to learn from rabbits besides caring for and daily responsibility such as “the birds and bee’s” and is fairly easy to explain with two cute bunnies mateing and fast (no pun intended) When I had my own children and got them rabbits as I had as a child. I explained where babies come from when I bred their Bunnies and a month later they were able to see the result with 5 beautiful babies, I let them each keep one(breeder/pets) and explained that we will eat some just like we do beef,pork,chicken,deer ect ect…
I went to my sons house a little over a month ago and he was out back building a pen with my grand daughter (11) and heard her say “this is hard work we are doin ain’t it Daddy”? and he said “yes sweetie, but this is just one we have to build four more” why Dad? we only have two Bunnie Rabbits! “We have a boy and girl and they are going to have babies like me and Mommy had you and your little brother”
I thought back as I got up and went in to get a cup of coffee.
My son and I were speaking on the phone the other evening and he said hang on Dad Kell wants to talk to you.
Me- “Hello beautiful” “Hi Pap! You know what”? “what’s that”? “you know Lucy and Ricky”? “ya hun its a funny show” “noo silly not the show my bunnies Lucy had her babies!!! 7!!! babies they are like Mommy and Daddy and had children like me and Frankie, but we can only keep 2 do you know why”? “why is that hun”? “because we are going to eat some just like we do hamburgers and chicken legs……….
I am sorry for the long winded ramble it started with a thank you for the site I was looking to brush up on rabbits in the case I was needed Thank You Sorry again
What a great story! I’m glad your grandkids know where their meat comes from!
Thanks for a great website. I am a new meat rabbit producer in San Diego county (Jamul) and have looking for a mobile slaughter for the meat rabbits.
Or a local butcher shop that can do the deed and dress them.
In our area (Portland, OR), there is ONE licensed facility who will butcher rabbits. Their main business, however, is dressing poultry. I would suggest finding for a small poultry processor in your area and contacting them about butchering your rabbits.
Butcher them yourself. It is not hard and does not take long.
I too raise rabbits and I just enjoyed a beautiful lesson from Grandpa eyes. I used the rabbits to teach my children about the birds and the bees. We also eat the rabbits we aren’t keeping for breeding. It teaches children that meat just doesn’t come from the grocery store. When you raise your own meat you know what went into it. I use barley and sunflower seeds in my feed mix for the meat rabbits. It gives the meat a sweeter taste and helps to make it more tender. We show some of our rabbits through the ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association). My daughter has been the number one youth Rex breeder in the state of Michigan 4 years in a row. It gives the kids a good sense of accomplishment when their efforts are recognized by a national and local group. Raising babies, feeding the herd, cleaning 50 cages and picking which rabbits to keep, keeps kids busy out doors and teaches them that work has to be done no matter what. Rabbits must be fed summer and winter. Winter is the hardest with frozen water bowls, and cages have to be cleaned. But when a child can be recognized and earn extra money for selling breeding stock it teaches them a good work ethic. You’ve got a good site going. Keep up the good work!
Wouldn’t it be just as humane and effective to shoot the rabbit point-blank in the back of the head with a .22 handgun?
I have done this to sick & suffering wild rabbits who were alive and partially eaten by predators.
A .22 cartridge is not very expensive and .22 CB longs are subsonic quiet cartridges if butchering is not done in strictly farm country where “anything goes”.
Also, what about goats? I have eaten goats in Arab nations and it was very lean and tasty.
Your thoughts, please.
P.S. We are getting very hungry in rural Michigan and must begin subsistence living to survive in america. Weeds like dandelions and stinging nettles are becoming a staple for existence, but we also need meat.
Well, Gary, The Rabbit Revolution is taking place in urban Portland, OR, in our backyard. There are very strict laws about discharging firearms within city limits, even little .22 handguns. I know some do use a .22 air rifle, which is probably legal, but I don’t want to chance it. We live a block from an elementary school and our back neighbor is a church.
As for meat goats, we’re all for it! Goat meat is readily available from Halal markets in areas with a Muslim population. We would love to raise goats, but, having only a quarter acre of land, we just don’t have the pasture for them. They would quickly devastate our yard. When we get some acreage, we’ll get some goats.
We love dandelions and nettles! They’re very nutritious and have excellent body cleansing properties. Dandelions are also excellent rabbit food, flowers, seed heads, and all.
I am looking for New zealands reds rabbits to raise for meat. Do you know where I may fine this type of rabbits.We live in WV and we are close to MD and VA and PA. If you can help me fine these rabbits be very greatful.
Thanks
My sister, who lives near Portland, got me involved with rabbits. She ended up giving me a doe that we had to bottle feed. Neither of us thought she would make the long trip home to Eastern Oregon, but she did. My sister took Fuzz back home after one visit, and I ended up bring home Fuzz and 6 babies. I just finished harvesting 3 of the 6 this morning. I must say, your site is awesome! Thank you for the information!
I started a 4-H rabbit club in my Oklahoma community a year and 1/2 half ago. I downloaded a project report for my 13 year old off of the internet. Can any one tell me what the market cuts of meat are? We have looked and cant find it any were. We think that the parts at the shoulder are the shoulder sections, but we are not sure about the center sections. I think rib, and saddle? Please help! And if anyone knows of a link i could go to so that i can print off a diagram for learning info for the club.
Great Info!
I am new to this and want to breed rabbits for food. I ordered a pair of New Zealands and picked them up today. I am confused because they are white with pink eyes (albinos I guess). I thought that the white with pink eyes were Californians but I was told that they were New Zealands indeed.
What is the difference between the two breeds? They look the same to my untrained eye. By the way, I am a retired professor of biology so let me have it.
This guy can kill, gut and skin a rabbit in less than a minute and a half. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpwhOE74TMA. I do like the one you’ve posted for the kill and bleeding better
I raise California’s for breading, showing and meat. Both to eat and sell. I am having problems finding a reliable “rabbit meat hauler”, that comes on a set schedule. I have noticed lately that people are advertising on Craigs List that they have dressed out rabbits or will dress them out for you. I was wondering what the laws are regarding this type of venture?
Please note: I am not a lawyer. This is just what I have found out through my own research of the Oregon state laws regarding the sale of meat.
In the state of Oregon, you may sell meat directly to consumers (either from home or at a farmers’ market) if it has been slaughtered in a facility licensed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. If you are selling meat to someone who resells it (shops and restaurants), the facility must be licensed by the USDA.
It seems that you may legally sell a live animal and then butcher it for free, but I’m not responsible if you get in trouble!
I have noticed several entries on craigslist lately for dressed out rabbit fryers. What are the laws for selling the meat processed at your home? I would love to make more of my fryers available, as I have a hard time with a consistant pickup from a rabbit hauler. Does anyone know the rules for this?
Hello, I live in Australia, so the rabbit market isn’t so great, so I usually hunt rabbit and give them to my friends who know how to butcher them. My question is, does wild rabbit have a different method of preparing in a serving size, and if so, what is the best way to do it?
Is it ok to cull & eat rabbits sick with mucoid entropy? I bought a box of bunnies from a local ag auction, & one by one, they’re getting it. I researched treatment, sounds like a waste of $ and time.
When something dies of disease, it has already begun to decompose inside. So, no, I wouldn’t eat an animal that dies of a sickness. Bury them, disinfect everything, and be done with it.
First of all I was looking for a soy-free based organic rabbit feed that led me to your site. After learning that you are raising bunnies for slaughter I became disinterested in your products. I would like to leave a comment after reading some that were on your site… Yes, I do love ALL God’s creatures that he gave to us to be good stewards. I am not a fan of slaughtering ANY animals, HOWEVER… I understand that there were CERTAIN animals that God has given permission to humanely kill for food. Weather I like it or not, that is the way it is and I understand that. BUT my intention here is to inform anyone who may not have been shown the Biblical food laws that were not done away with when the Lord died on the cross. Ceremonial law( such as animal sacrafice) has been done away with but all His other laws stand as given. Which includes…which animals are acceptable to eat and which ones are not. The do nots do include rabbits. See Lev 11:5-6 In Lev. and Deut you can find the do’s and don’ts. But don’t forget how Jesus spoke in His own words in the new testament asking… Did I come to do away with the law???? And He told them “God forbid”, no I came to fulfill the law not to do away with it. Anyway I just wanted to put that out there in case there was anyone interested in seeing what the word of God has to say about this subject. I now am the proud owner of a lionhead bunny that I love. I am happy to know what the scripture has to say about everything even if it does not go along with what I thought or wanted. He is the master and I will get in line with what He says and will obey. Just keep in mind that there are consequences for not obeying and they may manifest in things such as our health, so please grab a Authorized King James Bible band just check out what I am saying before throwing out what I had to say. I do hope it helps the people and the bunnies too!!!! Thankyou
I’m interested in raising rabbits and selling the meat. Who would I contact to inquire about the local laws as far as the butchering and selling process? Thank you
Your state department of agriculture regulates the sale of meat.
Hi,
I have been looking high and low for a rabbit farm in san diego county. I used to raise rabbits on the farm in Livermore, and had them in the pot in no time. So, I am looking to purchase live rabbits,or for that matter, processed, but not to the tune of $27 or more each. Any help out there? I will check back often for an answer. thank you, bob
dont really think any of the ways you listed to kill a rabbit are that humane. shooting is best,or I hold the rabbit up by the back legs and then do a a stiff hand karate chop to the back of the head behind the ears, its quick and no tools required, if your hand isn’t up to it a piece of pipe would suffice.
Can’t say I agree, Ron! I’ve “bopped” a rabbit before and it doesn’t seem humane to me at all. They fall over and shake like they’re scared. And a bullet can miss.
Broomsticking severs the spinal cord and the heart stops beating almost at once. Without blood supply, the brain quickly shuts down. The rabbits also bleed out faster when you take the entire head off.
A few questions; if you cannot cook the rabbit right after dressing do you have to worry about rigor mortis? What’s the best way to store it if you plan to use it within a day or so? Any recs on what brand of scissors to use? What do people typically do with the heads and other entrails? To brine or not to brine and if so, how?
Rigor mortis starts to set it just as soon as the animal dies. I’ve only cooked a rabbit once directly after butchering and it was tough, so I always let mine go through rigor mortis by sitting in salt water in the fridge for 24 hours.
If a rabbit dies of heat exhaustion and you dress it out immediately is the meat good to eat?
I don’t think it would hurt you, but stress makes the meat go bitter. Rabbits who die of heat exhaustion are very stressed.
Hi I am from Belize. For years I have been raising rabbits for meat. The way i found most efficient is: I got cabbage leaves from a local market and gave em free flow of that, also free flow of regular chicken feed, as at that time I also raised broiler chicken. You will then need to make or buy a rabbit feeder to put feed into its little bin. I fed them 14 weeks and found them very tender. That was my chicken substitute.
For those who are interested, there is a video produced by the Rabbit Industry Council which is available at http://www.battats.com/video. It is titled Humane Rabbit Slaughter for Home Use and covers several humane methods of euthanasia (helpful for emergencies as well as butchering day) along with dressing techniques and much more.
The reason a ‘bopped’ bunny falls over and shakes is that the feedback from the brain has been interrupted, and reflexes take over. At this point they are usually unconscious and feeling nothing–so you can either slit the throat or decapitate. However, if you are doubtful, I also advocate the ‘hit them three times for certainty’ simply because if your first hit is wimpy, the others will make sure. It’s not like you are beating them to death, just making ‘assurance double sure’, as Shakespeare wrote.
Bullets, properly aimed and directed, rarely miss–there isn’t much available area to miss *in*, if you will. But I use a .22 caliber shotshell (snakeshot or birdshot), used from a rifle held perhaps an inch from the back of the skull. Fortunately, I’m in a gun-cool area with good neighbors.
Good luck to one and all–
Pamela Alley
Director, Rabbit Industry Council
(there’s only one RIC, and the one whose site ends in .org isn’t it!)
ric@rabbitindustrycouncil.com
I think,rabbit is not endangered animals,we can eat them.but when they are live,we must be nice to them.so is there anybody know sloughterhouse or a factory information?
Wow, very gruesome but I guess that is just the way of life. I hope that the rabbits do not feel any pain. I do want to try eating one. Hopefully soon
My husband and I started on rabbits this past spring..2 NZ does and a Altex buck..
Each just had their fist litter mid-August, so I now have 16 baby buns for the freezer (in another 6 weeks or so)..
My question is *this*…
My husband passed away suddely two weeks ago…
I don’t want to give up the rabbits, as I don’t like store-bought meat and we were trying to get away from that..That was the point of getting the rabbits..
But I don’t need 16 rabbits to process every three months, I can’t eat that much by myself….(the brother-in-law is a hunter, and will come and kill and skin them for me when the time comes..As well as taking 8-9 carcasses with him..He loves rabbit meat)
Sure, I don’t have to breed them anymore..but, I’d rather find a way to sell them locally, while keeping a few for the freezer.
Any suggestions?
No, i don’t have a USDA facilty near me, so I can’t sell them on line or commercially…They’d be “back-yard slaughtered..
And no one local is interested…I get either “oooh…yuck”, or “how can you eat such a cute critter..?”
Please don’t give out any information to anyone asking to visit your farm. The Rabbit Liberation Radical Action Front has been actively harassing and threatening law abiding rabbit owners and engaging in rolling pitched street battles with Friends of Foxes, OLP (Organización para la Liberación de los perros), and representatives of various other natural rabbit predators. I found the remains of a hawk fancier strung up on a gate during my morning walk today – a grisly discovery. They’d stuffed his mouth and nose with hawk feathers and hung the plucked carcass around his neck, as a warning to the others.
I have been trying to talk my husband into having rabbits for food. We too would like to become more self sufficient. We are on a 1/3 acre parcel and have 7 very loved chickens for the eggs, and we are talking about letting them have chicks this spring for the meat.
Reading your blogs and comments really made me feel good about my decision, then I saw the video. I can’t do blood. Hubby says that we would put the broomstick over the rabbit neck, stretch, cut the neck, and I would fall over backwards and be out cold. He’s probably right.
Is this something that can be overcome? I’m very angry with myself that I am such a wimp. Women did this kind of thing for centuries! Plus I have a tendency to get to attached to the animals. What do you recommend? Stick to planning a veggie garden?? =)
Thanks for your site. It truly is wonderful.
Sherri
The Paleo Diet…
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